Kilruane’s goal touch downs the Rovers

GAA: North Tipperary Junior ‘B’ Football Championship Final

Kilruane MacDonaghs 5-8

Shannon Rovers 0-8

Report: Liam Hogan in Borrisokane

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Cian Darcy (Kilruane MacDonaghs)

SCORERS – Kilruane MacDonaghs: Cian Darcy 2-1; Eoin Hogan, Matthew Spain 1-1 each; Craig Morgan 1-0; Seamus Hennessy 0-2 (1 free); Karl Williams (free), Niall O’Meara, Aaron Morgan 0-1 each.

Shannon Rovers: George Hannigan 0-3 (2 frees); John O’Meara 0-2; Austin Tierney, Emmet Moran, Conal Moran 0-1 each.

Kilruane MacDonaghs hit the highs in the second half as they claimed their first North Junior ‘B’ Football title since 2004 with a five-goal victory over a game Shannon Rovers side in the divisional final last Wednesday.

The winner’s ability to score goals proved the difference, including two in injury time which gave the scoreline a dominant perspective, but on the other hand, Rovers would rue two goal chances in the opening ten minutes with George Hannigan’s penalty saved by Kilruane goalkeeper Karl Williams in the second half.

The splendid sunny conditions were perfect for the game and both sides gave it everything from the start. Kilruane had many familiar faces on their starting fifteen including Niall O’Meara who had returned to these shores in recent weeks after taking a break from the GAA earlier in the year. Seamus Hennessy’s close-range free had Kilruane in front after three minutes and Cian Darcy doubled the lead four minutes later when Rover’s keeper Niall Cahalan parried the ball over the bar.

Rovers, with Emmett Moran, Marcus Esmonde, Conal Moran, Andy Byrne, and George Hannigan prominent took the game to Kilruane but messed up two goal chances in the process but the busy John O’Meara found the target in the eighth minute, quickly followed by an Austin Tierney equaliser.

Kilruane looked the more dangerous with positional positions meaning little as Eoin Hogan, Niall O’Meara, Jerome Cahill, Kian O’Kelly, Thomas Cleary, Craig Morgan, and Seamus Hennessy covered much ground and full Eoin Hogan was one such player as he put Kilruane in front in the 17th minute with Seamus Hennessy adding another seven minutes later.

As both sides continued to enjoy possession, each building up play from the back but the final pass so often going astray it was Emmett Moran who narrowed the gap to one, close to half time. Seconds later Karl Williams left his goal to point a thirty-metre free and as play continued into the second minute of added time Kilruane took advantage of loose play in the Rovers rear-guard when Eoin Hogan lobbed the ball over Niall Cahalan’s outstretched hand for a goal.

There were a few more seconds to play and Rovers ventured up field giving George Hannigan the chance to convert a free making half time score Kilruane 1-5 Shannon Rovers 0-4.

Over a minute into the second half, Kilruane increased their lead through Cian Darcy, but Conal Moran replied from play in the 36th minute with George Hannigan adding a free a minute later. Matthew Spain, just on as a substitute, moved Kilruane four clear in the 41st minute and four minutes later Kilruane put a bit of daylight between the teams when Cian Darcy scored a goal following an assist from Kian Kelly.

However, the Rovers refused to bow and two minutes later they came forward and won a penalty, but George Hannigan’s well-struck effort was saved by Karl Williams.

Not content to let Kilruane away Rovers cut the margin to six with John O’Meara scoring his second point in the 51st minute.

Kilruane’s response was emphatic with Cian Darcy, this time providing an assist for Craig Morgan to score Kilruane’s third goal. Aaron Morgan added a point, but the ever-present George Hannigan replied with Rovers final score.

The game had reached the hour mark when Kilruane’s extra firepower began to tell in added time and goals by Matthew Spain and Cian Darcy put the icing on the cake.

Both sides will progress to the County quarter finals in the autumn.

TEAMS - Kilruane MacDonaghs: Karl Williams (7); Kevin Oakley (7), Eoin Hogan (8), Oisin O’Meara (7); Ross Austin (6), Niall O’Meara (7), Mark O’Neill (6); Cian O’Kelly (8), Aaron Morgan (6); Thomas Cleary (6), Jerome Cahill (6), Mathew Moyles (6); Craig Morgan (7), Seamus Hennessy (6), Cian Darcy (8).

Subs: Sean McAdams (6) for A Morgan (9 inj); Matthew Spain (7) for Moyles (38); Aaron Morgan for T Cleary (38); Eoin Carroll (6) for Austin (50).

Shannon Rovers: Niall Cahalan (7); Kieran O’Sullivan (7), Matthew Tierney (7), Emmett Moran (7); Michael Slattery (6), Eamonn Hough (6), Marcus Esmonde (8); Conal Moran (6), Andrew Byrne (6); Austin Tierney (6), George Hannigan (7), Michael Tierney (6); Paddy Heenan (6), John O’Meara (7), Sean Moran (6).

Subs: Derek Horan (NR) for C Moran (56); Tom Hogan (NR) for Michael Tierney (60); Enda Hogan (NR) for O’Meara (60); John Flannery (NR) for Slattery (61); Conal Moran (NR) for S Moran (60+1).

Referee: Patrick White (Moneygall)